Extraction and Encapsulation of Phytocompounds of Poniol Fruit via Co-Crystallization: Physicochemical Properties and Characterization.

Poniol (Flacourtia jangomas) has beneficial health effects due to its high polyphenolic and good antioxidant activity content. This study aimed to encapsulate the Poniol fruit ethanolic extract to the sucrose matrix using the co-crystallization process and analyze the physicochemical properties of the co-crystalized product. The physicochemical property characterization of the sucrose co-crystallized with the Poniol extract (CC-PE) and the recrystallized sucrose (RC) samples was carried out through analyzing the total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity, loading capacity, entrapment yield, bulk and traped densities, hygroscopicity, solubilization time, flowability, DSC, XRD, FTIR, and SEM. The result revealed that the CC-PE product had a good entrapment yield (76.38%) and could retain the TPC (29.25 mg GAE/100 g) and antioxidant properties (65.10%) even after the co-crystallization process. Compared to the RC sample, the results also showed that the CC-PE had relatively higher flowability and bulk density, lower hygroscopicity, and solubilization time, which are desirable properties for a powder product. The SEM analysis showed that the CC-PE sample has cavities or pores in the sucrose cubic crystals, which proposed that the entrapment was better. The XRD, DSC, and FTIR analyses also showed no changes in the sucrose crystal structure, thermal properties, and functional group bonding structure, respectively. From the results, we can conclude that co-crystallization increased sucrose's functional properties, and the co-crystallized product can be used as a carrier for phytochemical compounds. The CC-PE product with improved properties can also be utilized to develop nutraceuticals, functional foods, and pharmaceuticals.

Starch-based noodles: Current technologies, properties, and challenges.

Starch noodles are gaining interest due to the massive popularity of gluten-free foods. Modified starch is generally used for noodle production due to the functional limitations of native starches. Raw materials, methods, key processing steps, additives, cooking, and textural properties determine the quality of starch noodles. The introduction of traditional, novel, and natural chemical additives used in starch noodles and their potential effects also impacts noodle quality. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the native and modified starch as raw materials and key processing steps for the production of starch noodles. Further, this article aimed to comprehensively collate some of the vital information published on the thermal, pasting, cooking, and textural properties of starch noodles. Technological, nutritional, and sensory challenges during the development of starch noodles are well discussed. Due to the increasing demands of consumers for safe food items with a long shelf life, the development of starch noodles and other convenience food products has increased. Also, the incorporation of modified starches overcomes the shortcomings of native starches, such as lack of viscosity and thickening power, retrogradation characteristics, or hydrophobicity. Starch can improve the stability of the dough structure but reduces the strength and resistance to deformation of the dough. Some technological, sensory, and nutritional challenges also impact the production process.

Physicochemical characterization of modified lotus seed starch obtained through acid and heat moisture treatment.

Native Lotus seed (NLS) starch was independently subjected to two different modifications such as heat-moisture treatment (HMT) and citric acid treatment (CAT). The effect of the treatment on physical, chemical, morphological, thermal, pasting and gelling properties of native and modified starches were evaluated during the study. The results showed that the enthalpies of the HMT and the CAT samples along with the onset, peak, and conclusion temperatures of gelatinization were increased. The FTIR analysis revealed that HMT and CAT increased the degree of order and the degree of the double helix of the NLS. The gel elasticity and the adhesiveness of the HMT and the CAT starches were also greater than the NLS starch samples. The developed modified starches could be used for enhancement of different functional properties for applying as gelling, thickening, stabilizing and filling agents for developing starch-based food formulations.

Thorough evaluation of sweet potato starch and lemon-waste pectin based-edible films with nano-titania inclusions for food packaging applications.

Biodegradable starch-pectin­titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO2 - NPs) blend edible films were developed by casting filmogenic solution of sweet potato starch and lemon waste pectin incorporated with TiO2 nanoparticles. The effect of incorporating different concentration of TiO2 nanoparticle (0.5-4% wt) on the different properties of starch and pectin based edible film was evaluated. Surface color measurement, light transmission, scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis techniques were used to characterize the developed films. Increasing the level of TiO2-NPs led to significant decreases in the moisture content, solubility, and moisture uptake of the films. Addition of low concentration of TiO2 - NPs into starch-pectin films significantly improved the mechanical and moisture barrier properties. SEM analysis also revealed that good particles dispersion could be obtained when nano-TiO2 particles content was low (0.5-2% wt). The glass transition temperatures (Tg) shifted to higher temperature with increasing the TiO2 concentrations and the thermal stability of the films was increased. The transmittance percentage was also decreased with increasing the TiO2 concentrations which revealed that with UV prevention capacity, the developed films can be used as food grade UV screening biodegradable packaging material.